Islamabad: The sky filled with vibrant colours as Chinese aerobatics team Ba Yi put on a display in Quetta, the capital city of Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
The performance was part of an air show organised by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) at Samungli airbase, near Quetta, on November 19.
Fighter jets from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and PAF jointly participated in the air show, with pilots performing various flying manoeuvres.
Pakistan’s JF-17 and Chinese J-10 aircraft demonstrated their aerobatic capabilities at the air show, held to strengthen cordial bilateral ties between the two countries under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri was chief guest at the event while Air Vice-Marshal Haseeb Paracha, Air Officer Commanding, Southern Air Command, attended the event as special guest.
Senior civil and military officials of both countries witnessed the mega event with a huge crowd of over 6,000 people.
The ceremony started with the national anthems of both countries.
The Pakistani hosts thanked Ba Yi team for honouring them with their presence.
Mirage jets, F-7PGs and J-10s filled Quetta’s sky with the various colours.
Aircraft from the Ba Yi team created red, white, blue and yellow smoke trails across the sky.
The crowd was excited to see the performance by the Chinese Ba Yi team which made a stopover in Pakistan after successfully performing at the Dubai Air Show 2017.
The formation of four F-7 PG aircraft was an outstanding aerial display, led by Wing Commander Armughan.
After the departure of the roaring F-7 PG, army helicopters performed a fly-past which was followed by the newly procured Agusta Westland AW-139 helicopter which appeared on the horizon for solo aerobatics display.
The six-member team of Chinese J-10s, led by Colonel Cao Zhenzhong, however was the main attraction of the air show.
The J-10 roared in the sky like lions, performing spectacular manoeuvres which thrilled the crowd.
The Chinese aerobatics team received huge appreciation and applause from the audience.
“I was satisfied with the performance today. The weather is good, the Pakistani audiences are amazing, and our pilots are marvellous. The rehearsal achieved the expected goal and I look forward to doing better at the formal performance,” Li Bin, deputy leader of the Bayi Aerobatics Team, said after the performance.
“This was the first time that Chinese team performed at a high-altitude of 1,600 meters. “It’s a challenge for us as we never flew in a high-altitude mountainous area before,” Wei Guoyi, chief of staff of the Bayi Aerobatics Team, was quoted as saying by China Military.
Earlier in the day, the pilots of J-10 interacted with PAF pilots and students from various schools and colleges.
Pakistan’s Air Force enjoys cordial relations with the PLAAF and the air show reflected their 68-year-old friendship.
